HONOKAA — Kaitlin Agustin fired a one-hitter, and the Honokaa junior right-hander received all the run support she needed when Hawaii Prep’s inexperience showed up in all the wrong places in a 16-run second inning in the first round of
HONOKAA — Kaitlin Agustin fired a one-hitter, and the Honokaa junior right-hander received all the run support she needed when Hawaii Prep’s inexperience showed up in all the wrong places in a 16-run second inning in the first round of the Division II playoffs.
That combination catapulted the Dragons over the Ka Makani 23-1 in a five-inning Big Island Interscholastic Federation softball game Tuesday at Honokaa’s Parks and Recreation complex. The game ended early because of the league’s mercy rule.
Honokaa (11-4) travels to play Konawaena (8-6) at 3 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals for a berth to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament.
The season is over for HPA (1-14), which loses only one starter in senior catcher Camille Kiyota.
The Dragons are young, too. They have no starting seniors, but they are already big-game veterans. Honokaa has been to states the last two years, a difference against HPA that showed in all phases of the game — from pitching to hitting to defense.
“There’s no substitute for experience. Once we gain that, we’ll be a fun team,” HPA coach Betsy Tranquilli said. “Softball is a humbling game. It doesn’t matter how good of an athlete you are, hitting the ball is one of the hardest things to do in sports.”
Agustin’s only hit allowed was a sharp single to Ranko Ono through the shortstop hole in the third inning. Agustin walked three, struck out two and gave up an unearned run in the fourth when Kaui Taylor reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
In the second, HPA junior right-hander Kawena Lim-Samura surrendered three straight hits, and Shereena Bird followed with a two-run double. Allie Shiraki and Kayla Kalauli had back-to-back walks with the bases loaded for a 4-0 lead, and Kayla Requelman reached on an error, scoring two runs.
Lim-Samura struck out Agustin. Then disaster struck. The next seven Dragons reached base and scored.
HPA 000 10 — 1 1 7
Honokaa 0(16)5 2x — 23 13 2
c Kohala 5, Pahoa 3: Freshman Briana Harrison only had one hit Tuesday at Kamehameha Park, but it was a big one.
Harrison drove a two-out pitch over the left field wall and broke a 3-3 tie to advance the Cowgirls (6-9) to Thursday’s second round game at Kamehameha-Hawaii (14-1). The fifth-inning, two-run home run provided the final margin.
Tiani Luga allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, struck out three and walked none to earn the win. Kumulani Kaai added a base hit.
Mackenzie Singleton took the loss for Pahoa (3-13). She allowed five runs on four hits and eight walks with two strikeouts. Kayla Silva went 2-for-3 with a solo home run for the Daggers.
Pahoa 012 000 0 — 3 6 2
Kohala 120 020 x — 5 4 3
